36 ON THE KECLAMATION 



and dissolves the calcareous, shelly, and other such matter, and 

 even reduces the siliceous matter into a state of subdivision 

 resembling clay; and it amalgamates all those heterogeneous 

 particles, takes off their crudities, promotes or prepares them 

 for chemical combination, and reduces them to a state fit for 

 the purposes of fresh-water vegetation. We, however, dis- 

 approve any attempt at suddenly freshening the soil, and con- 

 sider that even the soddening process recommended should be 

 conducted with great care and caution, always gradually, but 

 neither allowing the water to remain too copiously nor too long, 

 nor suffering it to run off too quickly ; for this purpose, there- 

 fore, cuts or channels should be made from the lowest spots 

 of the level into the circular dyke, so that no water should 

 remain absolutely stagnant if it could be got off, but that at 

 the same time it should only be drawn off gradually. Thus, 

 supposing the whole level could be channelled within the first 

 year after shutting out the sea, and this was done only 12 

 inches deep, these channels should be allowed to remain at 

 that depth a full summer and winter at least, before deepening 

 them another 6 inches, bringing them to the ultimate depth 

 of 18 inches ; gradual freshening and maceration are essential 

 to future fertility, and require a longer time in proportion to 

 the quantity of saline matter, with reference to vegetation, at 

 the period of embankment." 



"Thus we have brought the level into this state, viz., it has 

 a marsh dyke or water-fence surrounding it, and very numerous 

 channels throughout its surface leading the waters into the 

 marsh dykes, to the depth of 18 inches below the general sur- 

 face. The depth of the soil, we may now suppose, has been 



